Wednesday October 9 2024
Swindon & Wiltshire News
A Calne-based firm of virtual assistants has been named South West VA of the Year 2021 at the UK’s annual VA Conference.
Boatman Admin Services offers support such as virtual office administration assistance, bookkeeping and social media management to small businesses, and was formed in October 2015 by husband-and-wife duo, John and Emma Boatman.
The regional award, South West VA of the Year 2021, recognises the professional excellence within the industry and highlights the champions of good practice for virtual assistants. Candidates are assessed on passion for their business, their awareness of vision, purpose and values.
The award promotes the role and value of virtual assistants to global corporates, entrepreneurs and the SME business networks.
The six-strong company, which works with a national pool of clients including Swindon Will Writing, copywriter Love Audrey, interior design company Happy Beams and Taste of Bath, is also currently diversifying into developing digital products to support other VAs who may be experiencing overwhelm when setting up as a new VA.
“The world of Virtual Assistants is both fast and furious and growing at a huge rate,” said Emma.
“Being a VA is more than just having a mobile phone and laptop. There’s a big misconception that anyone can be a VA if you’ve ‘done a bit of admin’ and are fairly organised.
“After a difficult 18 months for businesses up and down the country – and across the world – it’s been amazing to be recognised as one of the top VAs in the country.
“We have a team of six associates on board who have a range of skills including bookkeeping and website design so we’re able to take on those extra tasks that are on business owners ‘to do’ lists.
“We take what’s been on the bottom of your to do list and put it to the top of ours.
“We’ve worked with over 75 businesses in six years from one-off projects to a handful of clients who have been with us from the start.”
Boatman Admin Services has scooped other awards over its six years of service including #SmallBiz 100 award in 2018, the only VA company to receive this award. It was shortlisted for VA of the Year South West Region for the past three years and for Emma, Female Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020 and 2021.
